Dumbbell retail/storage rack

Abstract

A dumbbell retail/storage rack that has a first section with a bottom side that is designed to sit on a flat surface, and a top side that defines one or more dumbbell-receiving structures. Each of these structures has two spaced saddles for receiving the enlarged ends of a dumbbell. The retail/storage rack also has a second section that is integrally coupled to the first section and has a bottom that is essentially perpendicular to the bottom of the first section. This arrangement creates an “L”-shaped rack that can be placed on the bottom of either the first section or the second section, to display or to hold two or more dumbbells, as desired.

1. A one-piece dumbbell retail and storage rack for displaying at retail and storing two or more dumbbells, each dumbbell having two enlarged ends and a more narrow middle portion, comprising:
 a first section defining a first plane and comprising a bottom side adapted to sit on a flat surface; 
 a second section integral with the first section and having a top side and bottom side adapted to sit on a flat surface, the second section defining a second plane that is essentially perpendicular to the first plane; 
 where the first section further comprises a top side defining an essentially U-shaped opening, and first and second adjacent and parallel dumbbell-receiving structures, each dumbbell-receiving structure comprising two spaced saddles for receiving the enlarged ends of one dumbbell; 
 where each of the saddles comprises a pair of opposing upwardly-directed sloped sidewalls that are sloped away from the enlarged end of the dumbbell and an upwardly-directed interior wall adjacent to the U-shaped opening; 
 where the first dumbbell-receiving structure is adjacent to the second section, and the saddles of the first dumbbell-receiving structure are at least partially separated by the U-shaped opening; 
 where the saddles of the second dumbbell-receiving structure are separated by the U-shaped opening; and 
 where at least one of the sidewalls in each saddle of the first dumbbell-receiving structure is coextensive with the top side of the second section. 
 
   
   
     2. The one-piece dumbbell retail and storage rack of  claim 1 , where the length of the bottom side of the second section is shorter than the length of the bottom side of the first section to form an essentially L-shaped rack. 
   
   
     3. The one-piece dumbbell retail and storage rack of  claim 1 , where at least one of the sidewalls in each saddle of the first dumbbell-receiving structure is coextensive with the adjacent sidewall in each of the saddles in the second dumbbell receiving structure. 
   
   
     4. The one-piece dumbbell retail and storage rack of  claim 1 , where the second section defines two dumbbell-receiving structures. 
   
   
     5. The one-piece dumbbell retail and storage rack of  claim 4 , where the length of the bottom side of the second section is longer than the length of the bottom side of the first section to form an essentially L-shaped rack. 
   
   
     6. The one-piece dumbbell retail and storage rack of  claim 1 , where at least one of the dumbbell-receiving structures defines a series of small openings that are adapted to accept dumbbell-retaining bands. 
   
   
     7. A one-piece dumbbell retail and storage rack for displaying at retail and storing two or more dumbbells, each dumbbell having two enlarged ends and a more narrow middle portion, comprising:
 a first section defining a first plane and comprising a bottom side adapted to sit on a flat surface; 
 a second section integral with the first section and having a top side and bottom side adapted to sit on a flat surface, the second section defining a second plane that is essentially perpendicular to the first plane; 
 where the length of the bottom side of the second section is shorter than the length of the bottom side of the first section to form an essentially L-shaped rack; 
 where the first section further comprises a top side defining an essentially U-shaped opening, and first and second adjacent and parallel dumbbell-receiving structures, each dumbbell-receiving structure comprising two spaced saddles for receiving the enlarged ends of one dumbbell, 
 where each of the saddles comprises a pair of opposing upwardly-directed sloped sidewalls that are sloped away from the enlarged end of the dumbbell and an upwardly-directed interior wall adjacent to the U-shaped opening, and 
 where at least one of the sidewalls in each of the saddles in the first dumbbell receiving structure is coextensive with the adjacent sidewall in each of saddles in the second dumbbell-receiving structure, and the opposing sidewall in each of the saddles in the first dumbbell-receiving structure is coextensive with the top side of the second section; 
 where the saddles of the first dumbbell-receiving structure are at least partially separated by the U-shaped opening; and 
 where the saddles of the second dumbbell-receiving structure are separated by the U-shaped opening. 
 
   
   
     8. The one-piece dumbbell retail and storage rack of  claim 7 , where the second section defines two dumbbell-receiving structures and the length of the bottom side of the second section is longer than the length of the bottom side of the first section to form an essentially L-shaped rack.